WOYWW 862

 THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND...

Hi there lovely Deskers, hope life is treating you well. It's been one of those weeks for us, G was properly poorly but has improved since the weekend and then our chimney had a big leak around the flashing. A wonderful local company came out and repaired it within 48 hours, so grateful as we've had storms for two days running now.  Ah well, still smiling...!

But things had to carry on, it was the RNLI Christmas at the Boathouse event last Sunday:

I was helped out again by my amazing mates Kim (the Elf!) and Sue plus all the wonderful making by the ladies in the shop. The stall looked pretty and we made £300 in two hours!

And we had a lot of fun!

I did a quick stock check the following day and we have sufficient things for next Saturday's fair, the last of the season. We're low on some choc orange covers so I've made a couple more Santas:

I might make a couple of reindeer as well, if they don't sell, the covers can be put by for next year!

As well as mates helping me with the stalls, another lovely friend, Eva from Austria, sent me a surprise parcel, inside of which was:

A beautiful folk art horse that Eva made herself plus:

The most beautiful little book, again made by Eva. Inside each little page had something special about my blog:

Isn't it wonderful? It's only 4cms tall so I can only admire the patience that it took to make it. I love them Eva, thank you so much for the lovely surprise, I will treasure them xx

And that's just another reminder of the friendship found in this community, online and in my hometown. How blessed am I?

Still thinking of Neet as well, I do hope she's beginning to feel a bit better and will get home for Christmas xx

Have a great week, love to you all xxxx

WOYWW 861

 I'M LOVING ANGELS INSTEAD

What a swift week that was! We seem to be saying the same thing but this really did whip by. Consequently I haven't done much crafting so this post will be short and sweet.

Last Friday saw the town's big Christmas event with a parade, lights switch on and craft fair. Five RNLI gals helped me out as it was a long session, 2.30-7.30pm. After I set up the stall I left them to it and returned for the last hour/derig - they enjoy running the stall as much as I do!

I took all the small Christmas stuff and it all looked very festive.

The robins have been especially popular this year...

As were the pigs in blankets and snowmen made by Sue.

And the Christmas stockings made by Sandra! I wasn't expecting too much from this fair but boy was I wrong...we took £336 which was amazing and took us over the £12k, we were all chuffed with that! The next event is Christmas at the RNLI Boathouse next Sunday so whatever I've got left will be on the stall lol! 

I've made a couple of things to fill in the gaps:

More mice and gnomes!

And possibly a few angels as well, see how this week pans out!

And that's it, hope you're all keeping well - G has a horrible cold at the moment so I'm keeping everything crossed that I don't get it! Keep taking the Vit C and Zinc xx

Have a good week xxxxx

WOYWW 860

 OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY...

Good morning all you lovely deskers, thanks for turning up for another week's worth of meanderings! The bunch of gals who meet up over at Sarah's have become true friends, the care and support should be bottled, it wouldn't half improve the world. Hoping that Neet is feeling better, sending hugs xx

The fair on Saturday went better than I'd anticipated:

The organisation and advertising hadn't been that great tbh (think it was their first time) but the footfall was steady and we took another couple of hundred so that was a useful couple of hours. My mate Kim came and helped, so we had a natter and enjoyed ourselves! Only £200 to go to £12k, so I reckon that's achievable.

Back home I've done a trial run for the Tea and Craft afternoon that I'm hosting for the lovely ladies who have worked so very hard knitting and making for the stall - Sue and Kim are also leading some crafting for that too, for which I'm very grateful xx

I got out that sparkly tulle bought recently:

and found all the other bits and pieces we need...

A little angel! Nothing too complicated as we've not got hours to spare and the ladies range up to 90. Hope they'll enjoy making it.

I also bought some fabric which was reduced:

These will no doubt feature over the next few weeks as I've sold a lot of trios of bags/purse/glasses case recently and need to replenish the stock. 

Finally (and apologies to you who've seen these pics on FB), the items that were bought and sent to the Falklands have arrived - here's the proof:

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to have seen these, it has truly made me so happy! I'm grateful to the lady for taking the pics and sending them to Ali, the Ukraine Humanitarian Convoy organiser - it was Ali who sold the bits I sent to raise money for toiletries to put in the bags for women and children in Ukraine, thanks so much lovely gal xxxx Hope you've raised loads xxxx

Short and sweet today, I'm getting stuff sorted for the town's Christmas Parade/Lights switch on/fair on Friday. Once again I'm so fortunate in having helpers from the RNLI group, many hands make light work!

Have a great week xxxx

WOYWW 859

 HI HO SILVER LINING!

It's been another really busy week, with crafts fairs, making, volunteering in the RNLI shop at the last minute on Sunday morning as well as doing side hustles with my makes! Just call me Del Boy, lol.....

Last week's evening craft fair was an odd one, I'd expected it to be much busier (and glitzier) than it actually was but we made £306 so I was pleased.

And of course I chose my outfit on purpose just so I could blend in with my surroundings!! This is my mate Sue who came to help for the whole time, thank you so much lovely gal xx  A couple of other RNLI ladies came as well so it was nice to have a chat as well as sell.  The next fair is this Saturday, in aid of SSAFA, an armed forced services charity - it's in a hotel less than a mile away so that's handy.

As a lot of cross body bags have sold, I thought I'd make some more in the stylish camo inspired fabric I got recently:

So hopefully these will sell on Saturday, fingers crossed.

I've been making smaller snowmen for the Christmas at the Boathouse event on 7th December. First of all, I made this:

The yellow wellies worked fine but I didn't like the hat or scarf so I took them off and tried a nice French Navy yarn instead:

That's better! The crew wear navy jumpers when on marches etc so it sort of fits in.

They're quick to knit and I've embroidered a carrot nose rather than faffing with a knitted one, seems to work ok.

I got fed up with my patterns being everywhere so bought a couple of new folders yesterday and am having a really good sort out....

I'll end up with separate folders for Christmas, Easter/toys and garments. Having discovered how easy it is to buy digital patterns from Etsy, I may need supplementary ones in the future lol!!

Hope you're having a wonderful week - our Neet is having ups and downs in hospital, things aren't improving quite like we thought last week. I'm sure that cards/messages would be welcome, contact me if you need info.

Love to you all xxxx

WOYWW 858

 HOLIDAY....CELEBRATE....

Well, that was a packed few days! Making last minute items for tomorrow's craft fair (think of me and the gals 5-9pm!) but also we managed to get away for a couple of days, of which more later.

I sent a few Christmas bits and bobs to an old friend, she'd asked if I could make her a snowman toy. I found an old Jean Greenhow pattern and had a go - I've never actually knitted one before. After making all the chocolate orange/FR covers, it was just on a larger scale really!

I used sparkly yarn for his boots, mittens and hat and it came out really nicely, he looks a friendly chap!

I knitted a few things whilst away and finished them off yesterday:

The pink yarn is sparkly too, so pretty. I'd run out of little bows so found a peasy YouTube tutorial using ribbon and a fork, it worked ever so well...

Cute huh?

It's not just me that's been making for the stall, other ladies have been busily crafting and my mate Sue made these fun felt pigs in blankets:

They're fab and made me smile!

That's it for crafting as we were away for four days. We went to St Davids in Pembrokeshire as it's been years since we were last there. A nice little cottage in the centre meant we could leave the car and walk everywhere. We even managed a stretch of the Welsh coastal path:

The old RNLI lifeboat station at St Justinian's with Ramsey Island behind - boat trips leave from there in the summer which is a fun thing to do.

St David's Cathedral is small but perfectly formed, I'd forgotten how beautiful it is.

There are some amazing ceilings...

and some brilliant and bonkers misericords. This dragon definitely ate all the pies lol!! There were green men galore, the medieval wood carvers had obviously enjoyed themselves!

My son Rhys is 6'3 and we have a series of photos of him standing in small doors/castle fireplaces etc, we've done it for years:

It just makes us laugh, he's a good sport and willingly does this. It takes very little to entertain my simple mind!!

And of course, my yarn/fabric shop senses didn't let me down:

Well, it would have been rude not to!!  I may have bought some Yarnsmiths DK....

I heard from Neet yesterday, she's Covid and Pneumonia free and the oedema is going down. I think she's going to be kept in for another couple of weeks just to make sure but that's great news to hear she's better. Hugs to you Neet, we're all thinking about you xxxxx

Hope you have a great week! xxxx

WOYWW 857

 SUNNY, THANK YOU FOR THE SUNSHINE BOUQUET

Hi everyone, welcome to another WOYWW linking up at Sarah's, a real sunny high spot in what's been a dark and dreary week here in Wales!

It's been another busy old week, I haven't done that much sewing but did have a request for some bunting, which I've not made for ages so that was nice.

The pivot function on my machine makes putting on the letters a breeze!

For a neighbour's new grand-daughter and yes, the name is spelled correctly!! They wanted pink and girly so that's what they've got.

I was searching for something in the Christmas box, everything got dragged out:

I'm going to make a robin and angel with a bit of free machining so of course, I needed some new stash...cough....

I was quite restrained don't you think? Some pristine white felt and some sparkly tulle, we'll see how my idea pans out - it might be one of those projects that's only great in my head!

I've been making more bits for the Christmas fairs:

A box of reindeer bits!

That's a bit clearer eh? I have to sew the white ear inners onto the fawn ear outers and then we can start assembling.  The things you do eh?

And my dear friends are still making some fab items too:

Sue made these fab tree decorations. What's the collective noun for Father Christmasses then.....a Ho Ho Ho? I'm sure you'll have better suggestions lol!

I've messaged Neet a couple of times but haven't heard anything back. I do hope she's ok - if you're reading this Neet, then we're all sending you hugs and lots of love. Get better soon xxx

Have a great week everyone!

WOYWW 856

 YOU GOTTA HAVE FRIENDS...

Hi everyone, welcome to another week of desky nonsense and goings on. Link up over at Sarah's if you want to see what all the other Deskers are getting up to as well. Talking of which, Neet is in Cardiology in hospital where they're trying to reduce the oedema in her legs, poor thing has had Covid as well. If you're reading this Neet, we send you huge hugs and hope you're home very very soon xx

It's been all go this week. I've been using up some fabric to get stuff made and ready for fairs:

The chickens are on the rampage again!

This fabric makes me smile, it's always popular so hopefully this lot won't hang around for long!  

I had to take some publicity shots of my crafts for the upcoming big fair on 13th November, so I set up the JanCave like a mini studio:

And set to....I did enjoy making the photos fun!

Those gnomes look like a gang of heavies don't they? And as for the rest, well frankly there's been too much Gluhwein swilling around lol! Thanks to all the fab RNLI crafters who have been working so hard, they've been stalwarts.

My mate Sue bought a few things around yesterday to add to the pile:

Animals made from face cloths, they're sooo cute!

Baubles made from fabric...

And the most beautiful and delicate macrame angels. Thanks Sue, you're so clever, these will look amazing on the stall at the next few fairs xxxx

I send items off to a Ukraine Charity, some are used to make bags of toiletries or shoe boxes to be sent out in humanitarian convoys, others are sold to buy necessary goods to fill those bags and boxes. Yesterday I found that some items had been bought and sent away....to the Falkland Islands!! My stuff has gone round the world but this is a first. Thanks to Ali, the UK Co-ordinator for letting me know this has happened, it made my day!

Hope you all have a great week xxxx